Our specific goals are to identify drugs that will target Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent infections and EBV- associated hematologic cancers and proliferative disorders that occur in the human host. EBV is a herpesvirus that infects approximately 95% of the human population and usually results in the benign, latent infection of memory B lymphocytes for the life of the host. EBV is unique, however, in that latent infection can lead to virus- associated malignancies such as Burkitt's lymphoma (BL), Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Understanding EBV latent infection provides insight into the pathogenesis of EBV-associated disease and may lead to targeted therapies to prevent or treat EBV-associated malignancies. Latent membrane protein 2A (LMP2A) is an EBV protein expressed in latently infected B-lymphocytes and detected in EBV-associated malignancies. LMP2A alters and mimics normal B cell signaling pathways induced by the B cell receptor (BCR) to prevent apoptosis and prolong cell survival. LMP2A function is dependent on numerous cellular proteins including the Lyn and Syk protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs), and the Ras/PI3K/Akt pathway. We hypothesize that LMP2A is essential for EBV latency and EBV-associated pathogenesis by altering normal BCR function and activating intracellular pro-survival and anti-apoptotic pathways that block important cellular checkpoints such as Myc-induced apoptosis. Using a novel in vivo murine model of EBV latency developed in our laboratory and a novel in vitro methodology, we will test pharmacological inhibitors of LMP2A-activated proteins. As described in the proposal, many of these inhibitors are currently being tested and are in early stages of human trials for treatment of other diseases unrelated to EBV-associated disease. Promising data using our murine transgenic model would provide important data to justify proposed human studies with EBV-related lymphomas. Finally, other targets may be identified in our proposed research that effectively target LMP2A function. Overall, the studies proposed will test the feasibility of LMP2A signaling inhibition, will determine the most effective agents to inhibit LMP2A signaling activity, will provide a foundation for in vivo drug developmental studies aimed at the eradication of EBV latency as treatment or prevention for EBV-associated malignancies, and may offer therapeutic options for EBV- associated cancers such as EBV-associated Hodgkin lymphoma and NHL.

Public Health Relevance

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a herpesvirus that ubiquitously infects the human population resulting usually in the benign, latent infection of white blood cells. However, EBV infection and the resulting latent infection can lead to virus-associated proliferative disorders such as Burkitt's lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma. Our specific goals are to identify drugs that target EBV latent infections and EBVassociated lymphomas that occur in the human host by using inhibitors of cell proteins targeted by EBV.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA133063-03
Application #
7837601
Study Section
Developmental Therapeutics Study Section (DT)
Program Officer
Forry, Suzanne L
Project Start
2008-07-14
Project End
2013-05-31
Budget Start
2010-06-01
Budget End
2011-05-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$274,204
Indirect Cost
Name
Northwestern University at Chicago
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
005436803
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60611
Rowe, Cynthia L; Chen, Jia; Jardetzky, Theodore S et al. (2015) Membrane anchoring of Epstein-Barr virus gp42 inhibits fusion with B cells even with increased flexibility allowed by engineered spacers. MBio 6:
Sathiyamoorthy, Karthik; Jiang, Jiansen; Hu, Yao Xiong et al. (2014) Assembly and architecture of the EBV B cell entry triggering complex. PLoS Pathog 10:e1004309
Fish, Kamonwan; Chen, Jia; Longnecker, Richard (2014) Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 2A enhances MYC-driven cell cycle progression in a mouse model of B lymphoma. Blood 123:530-40
Rowe, Cynthia L; Connolly, Sarah A; Chen, Jia et al. (2013) A soluble form of Epstein-Barr virus gH/gL inhibits EBV-induced membrane fusion and does not function in fusion. Virology 436:118-26
Chen, Jia; Rowe, Cynthia L; Jardetzky, Theodore S et al. (2012) The KGD motif of Epstein-Barr virus gH/gL is bifunctional, orchestrating infection of B cells and epithelial cells. MBio 3:
Chang, Rhoda A; Miller, Stephen D; Longnecker, Richard (2012) Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 2A exacerbates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and enhances antigen presentation function. Sci Rep 2:353
Dargart, Jamie L; Fish, Kamonwan; Gordon, Leo I et al. (2012) Dasatinib therapy results in decreased B cell proliferation, splenomegaly, and tumor growth in a murine model of lymphoma expressing Myc and Epstein-Barr virus LMP2A. Antiviral Res 95:49-56
Bieging, Kathryn T; Fish, Kamonwan; Bondada, Subbarao et al. (2011) A shared gene expression signature in mouse models of EBV-associated and non-EBV-associated Burkitt lymphoma. Blood 118:6849-59
Cen, Osman; Longnecker, Richard (2011) Rapamycin reverses splenomegaly and inhibits tumor development in a transgenic model of Epstein-Barr virus-related Burkitt's lymphoma. Mol Cancer Ther 10:679-86
Rowe, Cynthia L; Matsuura, Hisae; Jardetzky, Theodore S et al. (2011) Investigation of the function of the putative self-association site of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) glycoprotein 42 (gp42). Virology 415:122-31

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